Christies Speedmasters NY December 2016

On 6th December 2016 Christies are selling four Speedmasters in their watch sale. These are quite important watches and well above the usual for a B&M auction. Each is an interesting example of a rare reference. The sale is here.

Christies have really not done well in the photo department – none of them give me confidence to bid hard based on these photos. Inexcusable in today’s world.

Lot 27 2998-1

This is the most desirable 2998 to have, and with a tropical dial as well, this ought to sell well. The dial is correct, and this decay pattern is one I have seen only on early dials. I do not find this particularly attractive – its a sort of dirty brown, and more degraded than chocolate. Still I am sure it well sell well, not to me though. All the equipment seems present and correct.

Lot 28 2998-3

A fairly average example. Something might be going on inside judging by the chrono hand position. The lume seems to have come off the dial, leaving the white paint, The hands are vintage to my eye. However the hand layout is for a later 2998, in that I would expect to see a straight chrono and leaf hands in this, a -3. Estimate is lower, and so this might sell at a lower level given the incorrect hands and general lack of attractiveness. Or it might get over bid as people over look its faults.

Lot 29 105.003

One of the last made, with the very high serial of 26.4m. This dial has tropicalised in a way I have not seen before in a 105.003 – but I have not seen everything. The bezel too is an unusual fade – and the photo obscures the 90 so we cannot confirm it is the correct DO90 – though from the rest of the font I think it is. Pushers look original. I like this one. But frankly not for the money – I would rather put it toward the next lot, the grey dial. Unless of course in hand it looks a lot more attractive than the photo.

Lot 30 105.003

Described as a steel grey dial, this is not really apparent in the pictures. The estimate is higher on this one than the other recently sold grey dial in Antiquorum, but this dial shows less damage. It is very hard to see which dial this is. If it is the Blue “Soliel”dial then I value these higher than the grey dial. However the Soleil dials that I have seen have short indices, and the grey metalic dials have long indice.

So lets assume this is grey. After all thats what they say it is, it just does not look like it. This is a rare dial. It should sell well if the collectors are about.